Self-watering (African violet) pot OK for any orchids?

[plantaholic]

Before my ever increasing orchid addiction, I was a rabid African violet grower (fabulous blooms on all of them right now) and just got to wondering if there are any orchids that would do well in a self watering enclosed pot like the violets grow in? Just curious. I usually have one or two of those empty as my violets are growing like beautiful weeds. (They're inspiring my orchids to compete for growing/blooming records.

[tuvoc]

My thought would be no. I don't think there would be enough air movement for the roots to breathe, and the roots do a lot of breathing for the plant.

Kim

[Ray]

As I have no idea what a "self-watering African violet pot" is, it's really hard to say, but if the medium used is coarse enough to avoid their airflow problems tuvoc mentioned, I don't think it would be a major problem.

Just keep in mind that organic medium components, when kept constantly moist, will decompose a lot faster than if they are allowed to dry periodically.

[tuvoc]

Ray, just for your information, a self watering pot is basically an unglazed pot with no drainage hole sitting in another pot filled with water. The idea is to keep the medium in the first pot moist, with minimal top watering.It just seems to me that it would sufocate the roots of most orchids.

Kim

[caseydoll]

:iagree: I would also think that you could never really flush the pot out so that may also lead to problems? There are no holes at all in those so I would think that it would suffocate the roots as Kim said. But thats just a guess!

[plantaholic]

Okay, just was wondering because of the need to keep my masdie constantly damp and the possibility of some terrestrial orchids......Thanks for straightening me out on that.

[kiki-do]

To throw a wrench into this mix....I have a friend who had a mini orchid and didn't happen to have an orchid pot handy so threw it into an AV pot. I cringed when she told me that...it's in the AV pot and she is using sphagnum moss also. She dunks the orchid's roots/moss in water, then gently tips it over enough to drain out excess water, then puts it back into the bottom pot.
I gotta tell you. The thing is thriving and practically jumping out of the pot...but so healthy! Go figure!!!! It wouldn't have been my choice.

[Ray]

None of that is surprising. Let the roots have plenty of air, but keep them moist, and the plant will thrive.

There is way too much "tunnelvision" going on here, as we impose our own perspectives on someone else's situation.

Seems to me that such a pot is perfect for sphagnum.